81327_Inc Now Vol 34.qxd:81327_Inc Now Vol 34.qxd
2/4/13
5:17 PM
Page 7
Article THE FIRST TERM - SUCKING AND SEEING... Caroline White
I
t seems incredible to think that this time last year I was in utter turmoil. My brain was aching and my mind was swimming. My thoughts were all over the place and I never thought it would ever fall into place. We were considering schools for Seb. There were a million and one things to consider. Mainstream? Special school? Both? Which mainstream school? As Seb gets a statement, this allowed us free reign, not bound by catchments and gave us entry into my top choice - a Catholic school, a few minutes walk away that has an excellent reputation for inclusion and anti bullying. As a Catholic school, it celebrates the uniqueness of every child. The dilemma? There is a real possibility that his younger brother won't get in as we are not Catholic and the school is hugely over subscribed.
After spreadsheets and pages of notes, lists of pros and cons, printouts of entry requirements, we finally chose a dual placement with my top choice mainstream and the special school. We will deal with his brother when we need to! We knew it would be 'suck it and see'. I wanted to keep our options open with regards to Special school as I knew there was such great support there and I felt it would be good for Seb's self esteem if he struggled at mainstream. I was pleased with the decision - and happy to keep an open mind and see how it went. I have read that, with the right support, mainstream is encouraged but I have also been told that mainstream is only as good as your child's Teaching Assistant(s) (by other parents and teacher friends). I was concerned that Seb and I would get 'lost'. That we would both feel 'different' and find it difficult to relate to our peers. I worried that Seb may not be able to concentrate in class and disrupt (and possibly irritate) the other children. I could never in my wildest dreams imagine the first term we have had. Staff, children and parents alike have made us all so very welcome. Everyone takes the time to chat to us, as they do with each other, and I cherish the morning drop-offs and after school pick-ups. It is only brief encounters, but we feel included. We feel the same as everyone else. To see Seb confidently and happily marching into the school and being met with chirpy little faces saying: ‘Morning Seb!' 'It's Sebby!' and 'Hi Seb' warms my heart in a way I never could have thought possible. The other day I witnessed one of Seb's male classmates playfully rub Seb's hair as he walked past him in a boyish 'hello mate' kind of way. I nearly cried. It was a really special moment and that little boy will have no idea how much it meant to me. Seb seemed to recognise his peg from Day One. At first I thought it was a fluke but it soon became apparent that it wasn't. He settled into his routine really quickly. He places his bookbag in the bookbag
Seb’s first day of school
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